LVAA e-Alert (January 26, 2014)
NFL in the Rose Bowl Lawsuit Setback; Plus New Large Rose Bowl Events
The Linda Vista~Annandale Association would like to share the following update with you:
The Petitioners (including LVAA) in the lawsuit challenging Pasadena's Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for NFL use of the Rose Bowl were disappointed to learn that the Superior Court has ruled against us.
We are considering our legal options, including an appeal. One important aspect of an appeal is that although new factual and legal issues cannot be raised, the Appellate Court would review the legality of Pasadena's actions de novo, (i.e., all over again).
Read the Decision and Petitioners' Opening Brief >>
LVAA sincerely thanks all who have supported the lawsuit up to now. The matter may not be over, and we will keep you informed.
But, right now, there is an urgent new matter involving expanded use of the Rose Bowl. This Monday night, January 27, the City Council will consider the first step in expanding to a total of 30 very large Major Events in the Rose Bowl for 2014.
The effort is to "break" the 12 non-NFL Major Event "ceiling" that has been reached with the three large, already approved, One Direction concerts in a row on a Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night in September. Then, the City intends to add five more large events -- including additional concerts -- on top of the allowed 12. On Monday night, the Council will consider approval of two large, mid-week concerts, one after the other. The total will add up shortly to 17 non-NFL Major Events in 2014.
The NFL use of the Rose Bowl allows 25 Major Events, and so the grand total that the City is seeking for 2014 is 30, or even more if new proposals come in. It is ironic, but since the City won the lawsuit in Superior Court absent an appellate ruling, the City must count the cleared 13 NFL games, even if there is no NFL contract. LVAA believes that Rose Bowl impacted neighborhoods, including our own, will find this situation unacceptable.
Most of the 17 non-NFL events appear to be real money-makers for the City. Money in hand is preferable to the speculative NFL, but right now the City refuses to choose and seems to "want it all." This is too bad.
Neighbors need to express their opinions to the Council and City Manager before Monday night and also, if possible, appear to oppose the expanded Rose Bowl use now proposed without any additional environmental review or mitigation.
One possible message to the Council and City Manager is to limit any expanded use of the Rose Bowl to known, profitable, non-NFL events, and drop entirely the potential for NFL Rose Bowl use.
Monday night's Council Agenda item is No. 13. Contact e-mail addresses for our City Councilmember, Steve Madison -- and others -- can be found below:
Steve Madison: [email protected]
Mayor Bill Bogaard: [email protected]
Vice Mayor Jacque Robinson: [email protected]
Terry Tornek: [email protected]
John J. Kennedy: [email protected]
Victor Gordo: [email protected]
Margaret McAustin: [email protected]
Gene Masuda: [email protected]
City Manager Michael Beck: [email protected]
The Petitioners (including LVAA) in the lawsuit challenging Pasadena's Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for NFL use of the Rose Bowl were disappointed to learn that the Superior Court has ruled against us.
We are considering our legal options, including an appeal. One important aspect of an appeal is that although new factual and legal issues cannot be raised, the Appellate Court would review the legality of Pasadena's actions de novo, (i.e., all over again).
Read the Decision and Petitioners' Opening Brief >>
LVAA sincerely thanks all who have supported the lawsuit up to now. The matter may not be over, and we will keep you informed.
But, right now, there is an urgent new matter involving expanded use of the Rose Bowl. This Monday night, January 27, the City Council will consider the first step in expanding to a total of 30 very large Major Events in the Rose Bowl for 2014.
The effort is to "break" the 12 non-NFL Major Event "ceiling" that has been reached with the three large, already approved, One Direction concerts in a row on a Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night in September. Then, the City intends to add five more large events -- including additional concerts -- on top of the allowed 12. On Monday night, the Council will consider approval of two large, mid-week concerts, one after the other. The total will add up shortly to 17 non-NFL Major Events in 2014.
The NFL use of the Rose Bowl allows 25 Major Events, and so the grand total that the City is seeking for 2014 is 30, or even more if new proposals come in. It is ironic, but since the City won the lawsuit in Superior Court absent an appellate ruling, the City must count the cleared 13 NFL games, even if there is no NFL contract. LVAA believes that Rose Bowl impacted neighborhoods, including our own, will find this situation unacceptable.
Most of the 17 non-NFL events appear to be real money-makers for the City. Money in hand is preferable to the speculative NFL, but right now the City refuses to choose and seems to "want it all." This is too bad.
Neighbors need to express their opinions to the Council and City Manager before Monday night and also, if possible, appear to oppose the expanded Rose Bowl use now proposed without any additional environmental review or mitigation.
One possible message to the Council and City Manager is to limit any expanded use of the Rose Bowl to known, profitable, non-NFL events, and drop entirely the potential for NFL Rose Bowl use.
Monday night's Council Agenda item is No. 13. Contact e-mail addresses for our City Councilmember, Steve Madison -- and others -- can be found below:
Steve Madison: [email protected]
Mayor Bill Bogaard: [email protected]
Vice Mayor Jacque Robinson: [email protected]
Terry Tornek: [email protected]
John J. Kennedy: [email protected]
Victor Gordo: [email protected]
Margaret McAustin: [email protected]
Gene Masuda: [email protected]
City Manager Michael Beck: [email protected]